APBA Baseball Card History and Collecting Tips
APBA (All-American Professional Baseball Association) is a company best known for their classic baseball simulation board game first produced in 1951. Many collectors may not be aware that APBA also produced baseball cards in the mid-20th century featuring professional players from the major leagues. These vintage APBA cards offer a unique slice of baseball history and can be a fun niche to collect. Here is an in-depth look at APBA baseball cards, tips for collectors, and where to find cards for sale today.
The APBA company began producing baseball cards to accompany their popular board game in the 1950s. The earliest APBA cards were issued from 1951-1960 and featured basic black and white photos with player stats printed directly on the front of the card. These early APBA cards captured the careers of stars from the 1940s and 50s like Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial and more. The cards measured approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches, slightly smaller than modern baseball cards.
In 1961, APBA made the switch to color photos and introduced the first season-specific sets that matched the current major league rosters. From 1961-1969, APBA issued annual card sets each spring to keep up with player transactions and stats from the previous season. These colorful vintage APBA cards from the 1960s are highly sought after by collectors today. Notable rookie cards from this era include Sandy Koufax (1961), Reggie Jackson (1967) and Tom Seaver (1968).
APBA continued producing annual card sets through the 1970s but made the shift to larger 3.5 x 5 inch size cards in 1970 to be more in line with Topps and other mainstream baseball card manufacturers. The 1970s APBA sets captured the rise of stars like Johnny Bench, Rod Carew and Nolan Ryan. Production quality declined and the sets became less popular compared to larger competitors through the decade. APBA issued its final baseball card set in 1979 before discontinuing cards to focus solely on their board game.
For collectors today, vintage APBA cards from the 1951-1979 period offer a niche and specialized area of collection within the broader baseball card hobby. Condition is especially important since the smaller, older APBA cards are more prone to wear and tear over decades. Here are some tips for collectors looking to find APBA cards for sale:
Check auction sites like eBay daily as vintage APBA lots and singles turn up regularly. Be patient as true key vintage cards can be elusive.
Contact local card shops and ask if they have any vintage APBA cards mixed in with other 1950s-70s inventory. Many shops are open to selling individual vintage cards.
Search antique malls, sports memorabilia shops and card shows. Sometimes one-of-a-kind older APBA finds turn up in unexpected places.
Join APBA collector groups on Facebook where members regularly post cards for sale, trade or auction within the community.
Be prepared to pay premium prices for true key cards like the rare 1951 Ted Williams or 1968 Tom Seaver rookie. Common players from the 1960s-70s can often be acquired in the $5-25 range depending on condition.
While APBA cards may not have the same mainstream recognition as Topps, they offer dedicated collectors a fun niche area to build sets and find unique pieces of baseball history. With some diligent searching, there are still plenty of affordable APBA cards to be found that capture the careers of stars from baseball’s golden era in the 1950s and 60s. Connecting those cards to the actual APBA board game adds extra layers of nostalgia and enjoyment for collectors today.
